Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1887-10-24

sfS~icA oSSuttCA ou tilS Trip, NnlC
, was for the purpose of locating the bank an
, fitting keys to locks. The next trip wa
; made the latter part of the following Nov
emoer; shipped team to Gardiner as before
the men going this time by rail, meeting m
at Gardiner; started from Gardiner abou
sunset reaching Wsterville about 9 o'clocl
In the morning; father went up to the ban
and tried one bunch of keys. came back tS
the wagon and got another buuch and
tried them; father says d-n those KEYS
they wont fit" kept on to Kendalrs Mill
and baited horse there; went from there Il
Dexter, arriving there in the evening; lef
gang here; kept right through the village Il
Bingham and thence to Csruey's where wal
directed to stay until l heard from father
staid there l-2 days when received
Letter From Father
by the hand of Carney; went from there Il
Bingham, where found the gang; put ths
horse up and fed him; did not appear L
know the gang, but about fifteen minute.
after they left, harnessei up and overtool
them and carried them to Gardiner. went
home on the Star of the East and they drove
the team back TO Medford; on their trip
they found that the keys TO one of the banks
at Dexter would fit and also the one to
the gang; stsid with father until the first of
January, rs, then went to Lewiston, go,
into trouble and was sent TO Auburn Jail in
February, went from there to Thomasten,
May 4, 1878; stsid about three years in
| Thomsston, went from there to fathers at
Medtield; father afterword asked me il |
| had read the papers on the Dexter affair,
and asked me if | had learned anything in
the State prison; about that time he told me
that he was haunted by ghost, and next
dav he told me all about the Dexter affair.
From a window across from the bank the
gang watched the bank. Stain and Crom-
well went in; Billy Scott remained outside
When father and Cromwell went in they met
Barron. Father took out slungshot and
struck Barron on the cheek; Barron fell,
and Oliver grabbed him; they choked Bar
ron, handcuffed him and put a rope around
his neck. They then carried him into the
vault Father afterward threatened me if
told what knew. He once said he'd kill
me if | told | begged of him to spare me
this was before father was sent to Jail.
Cross examned-I do not know that can
remember when l was first married; the last
time was three years ago; have had four
wives, their names were Annie Deering
Lizzie Ballad. Fannie Bachelor and Lizzie
Stourtevant. Is that right? (Great laugh.
ter). IN fact young Stain proved during all
of his testimony that he is by no means the
fool that Cromwell would make him out tc
be. His retorts to the sharp cross examina
ton of Lawyer Crosby were bright and
quick and provokotive of no little merriment
He appeared gifted with an unusual memory
and could recall the names of hundred or
more towns where he had stopped in some OF
them not more thau a few hours or a few
days. 1t must be confessed that he told 8
remarkably straight story and one which i'm
pressed all who heard it as being decidedly
truthful Before going into the stand he haC
been impressed with the great Importance o.
adhering strictly to the truth in all of his
statements, and he apparently endeavoured
to do so. We heard more than one Dexter
man remark that before the hearing he took
no stock in the story, but since hearing
STAIN and Harvey's testimony he hat
changed his opinion great deal.
Tht government here rested their case.
Josiah Crosby made the plea for the pris
oner, and among other things took occasion
to say
| The bank officials here have been severel,
criticized by the press and charged with
lending their aid to defend these men
This is utterly false. They know nothing
about my acting Os counsel for Stain, except
as it was made public, and have never aideC
me in the least in my work. Neither have
had any conversation with any of the banl
officials in regard to the defense of these
men. Mr.. Morrill, Sprague, Cromwell's at
torney. Blso deniep any connection with thu
bank officials, and stated that he never hat
ANYTHING to do with the Barron case previous
to beiug engaged as counsel for Cromwell
He dwelt upon the bad character of the gov
eminent witnesses and in closing stated tina
the defence had decided to put in no testi
myny at the examina ration although they haC
an abundance of it.
Attorney General Baker closed the case TO
the defence in an able and scholarly speech
which held the audience by its clesr state
ment and stirring eloquenc. Mr.. Bake
spoke wholly upon the spur of the momen
and bis remarks we're based wholly upon tn
testimony which had heen presented, bu
his speech made profound impression an
did very much toward bringing about a com
plete change of opinion in the minds o
many who were previously believers in tn
suicide theory. He was several time
greeted with most hearty applause. MI
Baker said
May it please the court:
1t cannot be necessary that | should fur
ther expand the already wearied patience 10
your honor except by the perfect outline Q
the point here TO be proved and the evidenc
which the government has brought to prov
it. As to the point to be proved at this pre-
liminory hearing this is not the place for tn
government to prove as it should, before
Jury, the guilt Of the accused beyond rea.
: enable doubt, what 10 incumbent on tn
government at this preliminary investigation
is to show to your honor's satisfaction tbs
there is at last probable cause for prosecutin
further Judicial inquiry into the guilt Of tn
two prisoners. Probable cause for believing
that the interest of justice and the discover
OF crime will be helped BY sending those tw
men before a co1rt and jury empowered
sift judicially all the evidence determine cor
clusively whether the prisoners al the bar ar
guilty or not guilty, probable cause from tn
testimony introduced to hold the prisoners o
the charge of the murder of John Wilso
Barron. On the twenty second day of FebrI
arY, 1873. tragedy was enacted in this quit
: village which startled the inhabitants of tn
State. For nearly ten years the mystery
Mr.. Barron's death has remained unpierce
by any real ray of light, the deed was don
under the very eye of the communit
ard the murderers crept back int
protecting right and for nearly ten years hav
baffied every effort at'their detection. Near
time alterations of belief have swept owe
the community. Litigation, protracted an
expensive has been resorted to. Detective
have been employed to no purpose. Battle
| in the discovery of the murderers, the charge